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Background Material

Materials for commissioners attending the 41st General Council.

Basis of Union and United Church Crest

The 40th General Council approved a motion that acknowledges the presence and spirituality of Aboriginal people in the United Church as a significant component to the Basis of Union, and directed that Aboriginal people be invited to become signatories. It also directed that a new United Church crest be developed that acknowledges the presence and spirituality of Aboriginal people in the United Church. The task group on the Basis of Union and the crest is introducing its proposals to the 41st General Council at Conference Annual Meetings this spring.

Correspondence to GC40

Please find a log of the correspondence [PDF: 26 pp/351 KB] dealt with by the Executive of the 40th General Council 2009-2012.

Draft Manual

In 2010 the Executive of the General Council mandated the simplification of The Manual. The by-laws have been reduced in length and complexity and organized topically, making The Manual more user-friendly. The draft Manual is subject to approval by the 41st General Council.

Effective Leadership and Healthy Pastoral Relationships

Effective Leadership and Healthy Pastoral Relationships is a proposal for simplified pastoral relations and oversight and discipline processes in the GC41 Workbook (PLENARY 7). These resources are provided for Commissioners who wish to review the reports, consultations, and research findings that have contributed to this project.

Interim Ministry Steering Group

The following document provides background for GCE 11 Report of the Interim Ministry Steering Group. This background document provides additional context and details of the work of the Interim Ministry Steering Group.

Permanent Committee on Programs for Mission and Ministry

These documents are related to the core work of the program area of the General Council Office.

State of the Church

There are choices to be made for The United Church of Canada, and dreams to be nurtured, as we seek to serve God faithfully in the 21st century. The facts and trends documented here provide the context for the decisions to be made at General Council. This report offers vital information for all commissioners coming to the 41st General Council this August and seeks to sketch the larger picture that connects the many parts of who we are as a denomination.

The State of the Church is now INFO 1-23 of the GC41 Workbook.

The Beaconsfield Initiative: Canadian Mining Interests in the Philippines

The following theological reflection supports ORANGE 21-22 M&O1 Beaconsfield Initiative Proposal on strengthening partnerships and studying the impact of Canadian mining interests in the Philippines. ORANGE 21-22 can be found in the GC41 Workbook.

The Pension Board and Responsible Investment

The United Church Pension Board has offered the following information on its responsible investment policies and practices as background to Commissioners attending the 41st General Council 2012.

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